stevkrause

I played from the ages of 6-16, playing a primarily penalty kill, grind line specialist role, playing varying levels from house to travel. In my last full year I played, I led my team in both assists and penalty minutes, maybe flying off the handle too quickly occasionally At age 16, I blew my left knee out in training camp and that officially ended my playing career - 2 years before I was slated to play for MSU, good timing, huh? I knew my ability and skill and can comfortably admit that I was never going past the collegiate ranks, but still would have loved the chance just to play even limited minutes at that level... I'm 25 now, my knee still bothers me a bit, but I've started skating again and am looking to join a "beer league" in the near future and start playing again. I also coached from 16-19 and am looking to get back into that as well.

I couldn't agree more

I'd go one further and say that not only would he make the biggest impact of the available free-agents, to say he would make the biggest impact on our defense... I know what you're thinking, how can a top 4 make the most impact - well, adding him free's up the game of guys like Lidstrom and makes the signing of Rafalski a GRAND SLAM - I have been iffy about the signing of Rafalski over some of the other free agents, however, if you add a Markov, then the physical need is addressed and then Rafalski is an AMAZING signing, because you don't need that physicality out of your number 2 guy Also, he's already been in the system for 2 years - cuts out the learning curve

Agreed, it's all in the promotion and development of talent, there's so much coming out of Sweden right now for one reason - as Nick said "In Sweden, you play hockey in the winter and soccer in the summer" It's encouraged and pushed there, so they develop more

I agree on a lot of these points - DEFINITELY dangle some megabucks out to bring Taglibue, but with a short 2 year contract (he wants to be retired) having Bobby Clarke as Asst. Commisioner, set to be Tags successor and lets Tags select the board around him Nix NO markets, just relocatation - Nashville, Florida, Phoenix - Portland, forge an agreement with the city to alleviate the crazy tax BS and bring one back to Quebec and one in Kansas City, even though Anaheim is kinda a joke in how serious they take hockey, they are a successful market... DEFINITE re-alingment, Wales and Campbell would be beautiful again, 4 divisional games, play everyone in the league at least once and regional out of conference opponents at least twice, focusing on original six marquee matchups bring TSN to the states - They cover hockey like no other - Get them for FREE on all cable networks for at least a 2 year span to build interest and then renegotiate a TV contract Eliminate the instigator rule Go back to a 1 ref system with 3 linemen (lets face it, the guys are getting bigger and stronger, we need more bodies to handle when things get out of hand, but we don't need idiots making calls from the other end of the ice when the other ref is right in front of it) Let the goalies leave their crease again and roam free - also making them fair game if they leave the crease out front or the trapezoid zone behind the net- this will police and protect itself PROMOTE their marque guys, product placement is huge here... throw Sid in some movies, TV show appearances, etc... League wide mandated "cheap seats" - I'm not sure who mentioned it, but make each club feature at least 2000 seats for $8 or less - FANTASTIC idea, brings families back

Edmonton - 5 years at about 5.25 a year for Souray Detroit - 5 years at 6 a year for Rafalski I personally would have rather seen them spend the money on Souray - he's younger, stronger, meaner and provides more offense on the PP Don't get me wrong, Rafalski is a GREAT d-man, but I don't think he really fit our needs like Souray would have, we already arguably have our 3 "puck moving d-men" per defensive pairing - Lidstrom, Kronwall and Lebda and the contract would have been the same length for a younger defenseman that puts a little fear in opposing forwards How does everyone else feel about this?

everyone's defending Rafalski as though I said he wasn't good, I think he's one hell of a defenseman, and yes, Souray isn't the strongest defensive defenseman, but I think paired with Lidstrom it would have been all kinds of dynamic - I didn't realize that he beat the ever living crap out of Kronner's brother during the lockout in the Swedish league either... so that probably wouldn't have been good for locker room morale -

UFA - The guy is 6'5, almost 230 and can fly for a big guy, he's been on garbage lines, playing garbage minutes his whole NHL career and has not been on a squad that really fit his style. He put up 12 goals and 23 pts between Chicago and Tampa last year, yet again, playing garbage minutes. I think he would be a steal if he came here and would blossom playing with guys like Hank, Dats, and to a younger degree, on a line with Flip or Huds, he could be tutored by Holmstrom to be another big body out front and would be hard to move at that size... also, he'd be dirt cheap and if it wasn't working on the big squad, he could split time between here and GR... I think he would explode here and be another guy the Wings put out there that every one else is like "why didn't we take that guy"

yet again, when it comes to a chance signing, yes, a great one. Everyone keeps replying to this like I'm stating he is going to be the next Eric Lindros in his prime, how bad do I need to drive it home that he may turn into nothing, but for a 2 way contract, I see absolutely no reason not to take a shot on him. Also, Matt Cullen, yes, Mark Cullen, not so much.

hahahaha, your mom didn't hug you enough did she? I never changed my stance, I said from the very beginning that I thought he had great potential. period. I'm not the one who referenced a video game in the first place, so how is that a 180? - I just think backing up a point with a video game is a little weak, sorry yea, Chicago didn't even want Cleary back either... you think he sucks??????? Also, yea, Mark Cullen, that's a great grab... the point I'm making, is that he is not the solution to everything and might not even turn into a great player, but has the potential and at very least is worth a minor league contrac... he would cost us nothing, so give one good reason not to sign him and to sign a Mark Cullen - Shoot.

thank you - point proven.

haha, exactly... I don't think a video game is the best judge of ability but people watch his game in real life, they will see the untapped talent... outside of the gamers realm

I'm looking towards the future as well, I'm not saying he's a solution to this year, just a guy that is available right now that could help us in the long run... have you ever actually watched him play? you wouldn't be saying this if you had. he has so much un-tapped potential, it's sick and yes, he is fast for a guy his size, like I said... he's not going to blaze past Andy McDonald, but he's a hell of a lot faster than most other guys at 6'5 in the league...

Thats what I originally thought, but he was listed as UFA by nhlscap.com and they're usually pretty accurate, I just checked NHL.com and it appears he is RFA, I stand corrected

I hate, hate, hate this off season...